Electronic massaging orthotic compression glove

ABSTRACT

An electronic vibrating compression glove which simultaneously provides compression and vibration therapy to arthritic hands.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an electronic massaging orthotic compressionglove which simultaneous applies compression and vibrating massage to awearer's hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved electronic vibrating compressionglove. The glove is operable by a power source and simultaneouslycompresses and vibrates the wearer's hand. It is useful for massagetherapy for injured and/or arthritic hands. There are availablemassaging devices that attach to individual fingers or are handheld butthey all differ from the present invention in important ways. Someexamples of existing massaging devices are described below.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,862 shows a flexible glove that uses a source ofpulse energy such as a TENS unit to provide electrical nervestimulation. Publication 2004/0087881 provides electrical and heatvibrating with a full leather glove. Publication 2003/0221238 provides aloose fitting glove with a large motor source attached to its exterior.Publication 2002/0083508 is a vibrating glove with a plurality of ballsbeing movably disposed near the ends of the fingers. Publication2005/0143679 shows a glove of conventional configuration with a heatingelement and vibratory massage. Publication 2008/0216207 shows a glovewith a vibrational device to ease finger pain and a glove palm surfacewith grip dots. U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,855 shows a stun glove to give anelectrical shock to an assailant. U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,252 shows amassaging glove with vibratory balls. U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,604 shows amassage glove again with conventional glove material and a bulkyseparate rechargeable battery. U.S. Pat. No. 7,707,654 shows a massageglove and bead packet. U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,509 is directed to a fingermassage device that is mountable to a user's finger. U.S. Pat. Nos.5,601,529 and 5,519,292 are both directed to massage apparatuses thatare mountable on the hand and wrist of the user. U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,233is directed to a large fixed massage ball, and is mountable to all ofthe fingers of one hand. U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,481 is directed to a gummassage implement that is mounted to the posterior side of a finger ofthe user, and a method of finger massaging gums. U.S. Pat. Nos.2,918,055 and 2,350,817 are both directed to hand massagers. Both of thedevices depicted in these patents are secured to the posterior side ofseveral fingers of the user. These devices also impart vibratory forcesto the hand of the user, which is in turn used for massaging either theuser or another. U.S. Pat. No. 2,286,089 is directed to a handattachment means for a vibrator. The reference from the French Ministryof Industry and Commerce (Ministere de L′Industrie et du Commerce),number 59.368, describes a massage glove) utilizes hot air to heat theglove, and the massaging vibrations imparted by the glove are caused bya piston mechanism pushing pulsations of hot air through the glove.

While all of the above described gloves are relevant to the presentinvention in the sense that they show gloves which operably massage inone way or another, they are all distinguishable on several grounds andthey all have deficiencies which do not allow them to achieve theresults of the present invention. None collectively show in a singleglove, compression, vibration transferred to the top of digit joints anda glove that appears normal.

Accordingly it is a primary objective of the present invention toprovide a compression glove that is vibrational at the top of the digitjoints that can have a normal appearance and that allows the hands tostill perform normal tasks while they are worn.

Another objective is to provide a glove that provides some relief topeople with chronic hand problems, often from arthritic joints of thedigits.

A yet further objective is to provide a glove that is comfortable andavoids significant migration of its electrical components.

And still further it is an objective of the present invention to providea glove that helps maintain the feel of the massage longer, even afterthe electrical components are shut off.

Another objective is to provide a silicone cover on the fabric encasingthe battery housing to minimize migration.

The method and manner of accomplishing each of the above objectives, aswell as other benefits will be apparent from the detailed descriptionwhich follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an electronic massaging glove which simultaneouslyprovides orthotic compression and vibrational therapy, which is distinctfrom nerve stimulating electrical therapy. Moreover, such is achievedwith a glove which has the appearance of an ordinary dress glove, if oneso wishes. It's accomplished by using stretchable fabric material forthe glove and an overlay of the same stretchable fabric material thatcovers the battery, on/off switch, electrical connecting wires andvibrating motors. The motors are placed on the top side of the digits toexpressly enhance vibration at locations where there is less fibrous orfatty tissue to absorb vibration (tops of the digits). With respect tothe thumb, it is preferred to have the motor at the base of the thumb(CMC joint). The gloves may include other optional features as describedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of one of the gloves of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a palm view or a bottom view of one of the gloves of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic presentation of the electrical elements of thepresent invention as placed on top of the glove and under an overlay.

FIG. 4 is the glove in perspective view showing the overlay and how itmay be laid back for access to the rechargeable battery.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along 6-6 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is shown generally in FIGS. 1-6 as may be seen in thefigures. The glove 10 is stretchable having upper 12, lower surface 14,and its fingers and thumb 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 made of a stretchablefabric material. The stretchable fabric material acts to provideorthotic compression important to the co-acting simultaneous compressionand electronic massaging action of the present glove.

A suitable compression material that is stretchable is available and canbe purchased. Preferably it is 90% cotton and about 10% Spandex® andmost preferably 92% cotton and about 8% Spandex®. The material can bepurchased from a variety of commercial sources.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 the glove can have a palm or surface coating ofsilicon 26 which is optional. This palm or surface coating 26 enables abetter grip on objects. It is often a helpful option with people havingarthritic hands who have difficulty gripping tools and other objects.The glove 10 defines an interior cavity 28 in which a person may inserttheir hand.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3 electrical vibrating massage is providedby five individual vibrating motors 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 which areelectrically connected by wires 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 to power sourcesuch as battery 50. Battery 50 is inside of plastic housing 52 andcarries an on/off switch 54 and has a charger plug in 56. The electricalassembly of FIG. 3 is placed in mating relationship on top of the gloveillustrated in FIG. 1 and seamed over it as illustrated in FIG. 4 is anoverlay 58 of the same stretchable fabric glove that is stitched to thetop of the glove 10 of FIG. 1. The overlay 58 has a pocket 60 to bepeeled back as illustrated in FIG. 4 to provide access to the battery 50for recharging and for pushing the on/off switch 54. Pocket 60 may behooked closed by a conventional hook and pile velcro fastening means,62.

In operation the glove 10 is used in the following manner. A wearerinserts her hand in cavity 28, and instantly feels the compression overall parts of her hand. The individual vibrating motors 30, 32, 34, 36and 38 are compressed against the upper forward side of the wearer'sdigits, generally forward of the most forward digit joint, which isoften a location of arthritic pain. One motor is preferably located atthe base of the thumb (CMC joint). The battery 50 is then in a positionabout the equivalent to the location of a watch, if worn by the user.On/off switch 54 is then turned on to activate the motors 30 to 38, andvibration therapy begins. Because of the compression, the vibration isfelt well beyond the position of motors 30-38, namely carrying rearwardin the fingers, and even to the palm of the wearer's hand. To stop theglove 10, pocket 60 may be opened and on/off button 54 is again pressed.

Because of the overlay 58, the glove 10 has an ordinary petite non-bulkyglove appearance.

Certain constructional features are worthy of specific mention. Thehousing of the vibrating motors 30-38 is integral with the connectinglead wire. This is to prevent or minimize the fatigue associated withthe thin wire in an active range of motion device in the hand. The glovewith its stretchable fabric permits significant stretch, continuousorthotic compression and does not compromise memory integral nor doesthe stretching compromise the non-stretch wires that connect the switchand the motors. Straight stitch 69 holds the motor 30-38 in place anddecreases migration of the motor within the structure of the gloveitself as the glove is worn and used. Vibration induces migration so thestraight stitch 69 technique holds the motor in place. The battery 50also has a horseshoe stitch 70 which functions to keep this housing frommigration. This is important otherwise the on/off switch 52 would movewithin the structural glove 10. Battery 50 can have a silicone cover tohelp reduce migration. The silicone fabric 26 is optional but many likeit because it helps grip items.

Importantly the compression glove stretchable material helps communicatethe vibration all around the hand. Gloves can be purchased in small,medium or large size. Compression of glove 10 helps retain the value ofthe massage for a longer period of time.

If desired a Piezo electric vibration generator may be used to replacethe motors.

Motors 30-38 and battery 50 are available variety of sources. Anexample, one suitable supplier is Shenzhen Jingkefa Electronics Co.Limited. Batteries suitable for the vibrating motors 30-38 is a 3.7 voltlithium ion battery, which is rechargeable.

The gloves may be used and are especially adapted for arthritis, handfatigue, tired aching joints and muscles, cold hands, and poorcirculation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electro-massaging, orthotic compression glove,comprising; a stretchable fabric compression glove having upper andlower glove surfaces, glove fingers and a glove thumb which are allcapable of compressing a wearer's hand and which defines an inner glovecavity; an electro-massage element mounted on said compression glovesupper surface above the inner glove cavity to provide vibration directlyto a top side of a wearer's hand and digit joints; and an upper surfaceoverlay of the same stretchable fabric as the stretchable fabriccompression glove to cover the electro-massage element and provide apocket for the electro massage element and still provide a normal gloveappearance; and wherein the electro-massage element comprises arechargeable power source electrically connected to motors associatedwith the upper surface of at least some of the glove fingers, andfurther wherein the rechargeable power source is held in place on theupper glove surface by a horseshoe-shaped stitching around a perimeterof the rechargeable power source that prevents migration of therechargeable power source.
 2. The glove of claim 1 wherein the overlayis at least partially releasably attached to the upper glove surface toprovide at least partial access to the electro-massage element.
 3. Theglove of claim 1 wherein the electro-massage element is electricallyconnected to motors associated with the upper surface of each glovefinger and thumb.
 4. The glove of claim 1 wherein the stretchable fabricis about 90% cotton and about 10% spandex.
 5. The glove of claim 1wherein the stretchable fabric is about 92% cotton and about 8% spandex.6. The glove of claim 3 which has an on-off switch associated with therechargeable power source.
 7. The glove of claim 1 which includes a palmsurface coating on the exterior of the lower surface.
 8. The glove ofclaim 5 wherein the rechargeable power source and on-off switch arehoused in a single unit.
 9. The glove of claim 1 wherein the motors arereplaced with piezoelectric vibration generators.
 10. The glove of claim3 wherein the one of said motors associated with the thumb of said gloveis positioned so as to be at a base of a wearer's thumb to stimulate CMCjoint.
 11. The glove of claim 1, wherein the motors are held in place onthe upper glove surface in alignment with wearer's digit joints bystraight stitching that decreases migration of the motors.
 12. The gloveof claim 8, wherein the on-off switch is facing an inner surface of theupper surface overlay.